SPECULATIONS (ON@PTV SICAL SCIENCE 37 
tioned in the principal histories cf chemistry. He 
made no experiments, but depended upon his imagi- 
nation for his facts; he opposed the tenets of the 
new French school founded by Lavoisier, and _ pro- 
posed a fanciful scheme of abstract principles that 
remind one of alchemy. 
“Cuvier, in his loge (Mémoires Acad. Royale des 
Sciences, 1832), estimates Lamarck correctly as re- 
spects his position in physical science.” 
Lamarck boldly carried the principle of change and 
evolution into inorganic nature by the same law of 
change of circumstances producing change of species. 
Under the head, “ De l’espéce parmi les minéraux,” 
p. 149, the author states that he had for a long time 
supposed that there were no species among minerals. 
Here, also, he doubts, and boldly, if not rashly, in 
this case, opposes accepted views, and in this field, 
as elsewhere, shows, at least, his independence of 
thought. 
"hey teach in Paris,” he says, ‘that the integrant 
molecule of each kind of compound is invariable in 
nature, and consequently that it is as old as nature, 
hence, mineral species are constant. 
“For myself, I declare that I am persuaded, and 
even feel convinced, that the integrant molecule of 
every compound substance whatever, may change its 
nature, namely, may undergo changes in the number 
and in the proportions of the principles which com- 
Osea. 
He enlarges on this subject through eight pages. 
He was evidently led to take this view from his as- 
sumption that everything, every natural object, or- 
ganic or inorganic, undergoes a change. But it may 
